Regional

Panaji, Sep 14 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday that the Congress party's "Bharat Jodo Yatra" has failed and elected representatives have instead started the "Congress Chhodo Yatra" from the coastal state.

His remarks come after eight Congress MLA switched to the BJP earlier in the day.

"I think a maximum number of Congress leaders will leave the party and join BJP. 'Congress Chhodo Yatra' has now started from Goa," Sawant said.

After merging with the BJP, Michael Lobo, one of the eight MLAs, said: "We have started the 'Congress Chhodo and BJP ko Jodo' yatra from Goa. While connecting with the BJP, we want to tell people of taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's visions and strengthen them. Government schemes should reach all people and smooth functioning should take place in Goa."

Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, said that instead of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress should organised 'Congress Jodo Yatra'.

Besides Lobo and Kamat, the others that joined the BJP are Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Rajesh Faldesai, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes.

With this, the number of BJP legislators has gone up to 28 and strength to 33 in the 40-member Assembly.

--IANS
sbk/ksk/

Panaji, Sep 14 (IANS) In yet another setback to Congress in Goa, a group of eight MLAs led by Michael Lobo, who was removed from post of leader of opposition, joined the ruling BJP on Wednesday.

With this, the number of BJP legislators has gone up to 28 and strength to 33 in the 40-member Assembly.

Congress had 11 MLAs among the 40 members of the House. While BJP had 20 MLAs, which now increased to 28. However, the BJP had support of two MGP legislators besides three independent MLAs. Hence, the strength of the saffron party has gone up to 33 and that of Congress reduced to three.

Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Rajesh Faldesai, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes are the eight legislators which have switched parties.

After the formalities of merger, Lobo along with Digambar Kamat and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant addressed the media at the Assembly complex.

Michael Lobo, speaking to the media, said that eight Congress MLAs had called a CLP meeting in the morning and after discussion decided to merge with BJP.

"We took the resolution of the merging party and handed over a copy to the legislative secretary. We gave one copy to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and informed the Assembly speaker about it," Lobo said.

"We have joined BJP to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and also for the development of Goa," Lobo said.

Former Chief Minister Digamabar Kamat said in politics, decisions are based on the circumstances. "I had said initially, that whatever was happening in Congress was not good. If you read the letter of Ghulam Nabi Azad, while leaving Congress, you can draw conclusions that instead of 'Bharat Jodo yatra' Congress should have launched 'Congress Jodo Yatra'," Kamat said.

"Citizens of our nation are treated with respect at international level under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nobody dares to disrespect Indians in any country. Because such an environment has been created by our Prime Minister in the world. India will become a super power. While this is happening, Goa should not stay behind. For this to strengthen the Chief Minister and overall development of Goa we have joined BJP," Kamat praising the PM and Goa CM said.

Chief Minister Sawant said that Congress eight MLAS have merged with BJP. "I welcome them all. We will take BJP and Goa ahead,"Sawant said.

--IANS
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By Kounsar Bashir, Mubashir Naik
Baramulla (J&K), Sep 14 (IANS/ 101Reporters) Rutba Manzoor (12) was playing cheerfully in the garden outside her house when a leopard pounced upon her and dragged her into the forest. Her mother and sister could do nothing but scream violently.



"We are still in trauma. We cannot forget her face and mutilated body. It haunts us all the time. The scenes of recovering her half-eaten body will always remain as a scar in our lives," Ishfaq Ahmad, Rutba's grief-stricken brother, told 101Reporters.

Rutba, the daughter of Manzoor Ahmad from Bernate village in Uri tehsil of Baramulla district, was mauled to death on June 14. Her mangled body could be recovered from the nearby forest, only after an intensive search lasting for hours.

In the majority of cases involving wild animal attacks, children and adolescents are the targets. It has a long-lasting impact on other young minds. Still shaken by the incident, Rutba's classmate Zehra (14) shared: "I cannot get her out of my mind. She was always so cheerful. Now, every time I go to school, there is this lingering fear of a leopard pouncing upon me. I cannot think of going to school without my parents. I was unable to sleep well for days after my friend's death. Rutba still comes in my dreams."

Human-animal conflicts in Kashmir have resulted in hundreds of fatalities in the past few years. Data accessed by 101Reporters revealed that from 2006 to 2022, 234 people lost their lives and 2,918 received injuries in animal attacks. The number of deaths has particularly gone up between 2011 and 2020. In 2018, eight persons were mauled to death, while it was 11 the following year. The next two years saw five and nine deaths, respectively. So far this year, 12 deaths have been recorded.

Year Injuries
2016-17 127
2017-18 120
2018-19 83
2019-20 85
2020-21 87
2021-22 89

A thriving population

"Leopards are agile and intelligent beings. They camouflage themselves among the bushes and wait for the opportune time to strike. By experience, they have sensed that unattended children are the most vulnerable," Shafiq Ahmed Handoo, Regional Wildlife Warden, Kashmir, told 101Reporters.

Like Rutba, Sameer Ahmed (13) of Kalsi Chullan was dragged into the woods on his way back home from the playground. "I was at home, waiting for my son to arrive. Sameer was only 40 m away, so I decided to go inside thinking he would follow. But that did not happen for the next 15 minutes," his father Muneer Ahmed recalled.

"My daughter repeatedly called out to him, but there was no response. So I went to look for him in the neighbourhood, only to find his mauled body. I pray what happened to my son should not happen to other children," Ahmed said, bursting into tears.

According to published data, forests cover over 20 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir's total land area. There are 35 conservation reserves, 14 wildlife sanctuaries and five national parks within the state's 15,912 sq km network of protected areas. Of late, the wildlife department is concerned about the increased straying of wolves, leopards, tigers, black bears and monkeys into residential areas of Kashmir.

According to conservationist Aliya Mir, an increase in the population of black bear and leopard has led to man-animal conflicts.

"The transformation of rice fields into orchards with apples and other trees have provided wild animals with safe hiding spots. Now, it is easier for them to find resting places close to populated areas, though without any human interference," Mir explained.

With the fear of attacks on the rise, the wildlife department has established control centres in several places to ensure timely response and, if possible, prevent such cases. "We are witnessing an increased movement of wild animals even in township areas. Therefore, we have intensified our awareness campaigns. People do call us for help when they notice a wild animal in their area. Yet, the attacks continue," said Shafiq Handoo.

Isolating kids at home

"His desperate cries still echo in my mind," said Abdul Jabbar Ganai of Kalsan Boniyar in Baramulla district, whose son Shahid Ahmad Ganai (14) fell prey to a leopard while feeding cattle. "My other son was present there when Shahid was attacked, but we were all helpless. The leopard dragged him up to 4 km. Later, when we pinpointed the spot, we found only his torn body," narrated the distraught father.

Traumatised by the repeated attacks on children, panicky residents are resorting to extreme measures. "We don't feel safe. The authorities are not doing anything to capture the man-eaters. We do not want to send our kids anywhere, not even to school. We have isolated them at home," a local resident told 101Reporters on condition of anonymity.

Muzammil (10), a resident of Kreeri, Baramulla, does not want to go to school or even play outside in the garden. "I fear the leopard will eat me. I want to remain inside with my mumma. I want to study online, as we did before. I do not even think of playing outside my home without my mumma. Whenever I hear any noise from outside at night, or even during the day, my heart stops," said Muzammil (10), who is paranoid after watching social media videos of leopard attacks.

About the psychological impact of such attacks on children, clinical psychologist Wasim Kakroo said, "If parents isolate their children at home, this will affect their overall development. Children have already spent the last few years at home due to COVID-19, and if we do this again, their mental health can be impacted."

Kakroo suggested that children should play under their parents' supervision. "It is tough on parents... The situation is equally traumatic for a child whose friend or neighbour died in an animal attack. Children who witness such incidents should immediately get help from mental health professionals as it can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder," he warned.

(The author is a freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.)

--IANS
kounsar-mubashir/dpb

Islamabad, Sep 14 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Mini­ster Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has no plans to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) being held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this week.

"No meeting is envisaged with the Indian Prime Mini­ster," Foreign Office spokesman Asim Iftikhar told Dawn news.

An official said though a brief courtesy meeting between the two was possible, they would not be holding talks saying none of the two sides have sought a meeting.

The Foreign Office in a statement, however, confirmed that Prime Minister Sharif would attend the 22nd annual Meeting of the Council of Heads of State (CHS) of SCO.

"Besides attending the summit, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with other participating leaders on the sidelines of the CHS," it said.

The Pakistani leader will be participating in the CHS meeting on the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziy­oyev, who would chair it.

The leaders of SCO members and observer states as well as the heads of SCO organisations and other special guests would attend the meeting.

The CHS is the highest forum of the SCO, which considers and defines strategy, prospects and priorities of the organisation.

At the forthcoming CHS, the SCO leaders will deliberate on important global and regional issues, including climate change, food security energy security, and sustainable supply chains.

They would also approve agreements and documents that would chart the future direction of cooperation among SCO member states.

The SCO is a major trans-regional organisation spanning South and Central Asia.

Founded in 2001, the SCO upholds the values and principles enshrined in the "Shanghai Spirit" that include mutual trust, mutual benefit and pursuit of common development, Dawn reported.

--IANS
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Chennai, Sep 14 (IANS) As the issue around online rummy becomes a highly political issue in Tamil Nadu, two independent studies have found that suicides in the state in the last one year attributed to playing of online rummy are highly exaggerated.

A study by The Rotary Rainbow Project of Chennai working closely with the families of suicide victims, have found at least two instances of online deaths attrbuted to online rummy to be false.

They include the family of Kalimuthu, a constable of the Coimbatore armed city force and Nagarajan, a painting contractor in Chennai.

Both of them took their own lives during June-July period in 2022.

The families of both the victims have confirmed to Rotary Rainbow Project that the real reason of their suicides was debt trap and not online rummy.

Another study conducted by eminent scholar, Dr Sandip H. Shah, Professor of Psychiatry and Dean, Government Medical College, Godhra, said that there is insufficient data within the public domain to conclude that a suicide has been caused by online gaming in Tamil Nadu.

It calls for a 'rational' regulation that is based on further studies from the medical and scientific communities.

A huge political row had erupted in Tamil Nadu with political parties and social activists blaming online rummy as major cause of suicide. These two independent studies released in a space of a few weeks are bound to put question marks on these claims.

Tamil Nadu has historically among the highest suicide rates in India.

NCRB data on suicides available since 1966 have consistently ranked Tamil Nadu among the top two or three states in suicide deaths over a 50 year period.

In the latest NCRB figure, Tamil Nadu ranked second after Maharashtra among the states with the highest number of suicides in India.

According to NCRB, the top causes of suicide are problems were associated with career, loneliness, abuse, violence, conflict in families, mental illness, alcoholism, financial loss, and chronic pain.

The previous AIADMK government enacted the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act of 2021 banning online betting games like rummy and poker with stakes. However, this was quashed by the Madras High Court.

The present governmenthad appointed a committee under Justice K. Chandru to look into the effects of online gaming with stakes.

While the committee has submitted its report, the government is still to take a decision on this contentious issue.

--IANS
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Panaji, Sep 14 (IANS) Eight Congress MLAs after forming two-third majority are all set to join the BJP on Wednesday.

Congress has 11 MLAs in the 40-member Goa Assembly.

According to sources all eight MLAs, who are set to join the BJP, are in the Assembly complex to carry out the formalities. The group is headed by Michael Lobo and Digambar Kamat against whom the Congress had filed disqualification before the Speaker for allegedly trying to split the party.

Earlier, on two occasions their attempts to join the BJP failed due to early intervention of Congress senior leaders and as they couldn't manage the numbers a second time.

On July 10, 2019, during the last term of the BJP government, 10 MLAs of the Congress along with Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar had switched to the BJP. However, Kavalekar and other six politicians lost the Assembly election held in February 2022. The incident of Leader of Opposition joining the ruling fold had invited ire and criticism from the section of society.

--IANS
sbk/dpb

Chennai, Sep 14 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has directed the district administrations to ensure that lorries transporting untreated sewage be confiscated and case registered against those operating them.

In Tiruvallur district, nine lorries were seized that were found to be emptying untreated sewage into water bodies rather than taking it to the Common Sewage Treatment Plants (STP).

Sources in the TNPCB told IANS that in Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem, Dindigul, Virudhunagar and Chennai, several lorries that transport untreated sewage were detained and sealed.

The TNPCB has also made it mandatory that even buildings that are less than 20000 sq ft in construction area must obtain the consent from thr PCB to establish and operate a sewage treatment plant.

The crackdown and new directive follows several complaints received from across the state that Sewage Treatment Plants are not properly operated and that untreated sewage was discharged into storm water drains, vacant land and nearby waterbodies leading to pollution.

The TNPCB has also directed all the residential associations to apply for getting clearance for the Sewage Treatment Plant and the consent has to be periodically renewed.

It may be noted that the TNPCB has been receiving complaints from across the state from individuals and social organizations regarding the open dumping of untreated sewage this polluting water bodies across the state l.

--IANS
aal/shb/

Bhopal, Sep 13 (IANS) At least two persons died while over 20 others were got injured after a private bus fell into a river in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district on Tuesday.

The bus (MP-09/FA6658) carrying around 40 passengers was heading toward Indore from Khandwa when it fell into Satsoi river.

Officials said the injured persons have been rushed to nearby hospitals and the bus has been pulled out of the water. Preliminary inquiry by the local police revealed that the incident occurred due to overtaking at high-speed due to which the driver lost control of the bus.

The deceased have been identified as Kailash Chetram (45) and RadhaVerma (50).

"At least 20 passengers got injured, out which the condition of two is critical. All the injured passengers are being treated in Khandwa," the police said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan extended his condolence to the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.

"Received the sad news of the accident that took place when a bus full of passengers going from Indore to Khandwa fell into the river. I pray to God to give the departed soul a place at his feet and give strength to the family members to bear this deep loss and speedy recovery of the injured," Chouhan said.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) In view of the year-long celebrations of 'Hyderabad State Liberation' planned by the Centre from September 17 this year to September 17 next year, UGC Chairman M. Jagdish Kumar asked various universities in Telangana, Karnataka and Marathwada to take part in the programme.

The UGC Chairman said, "I request the vice-chancellors of universities and principals of colleges in the state of Telangana, and districts of Marathwada and Karnataka to hoist the national flag at your respective institution. You may also take out 'Prabhat Pheris' on the morning of September 17."

UGC Secretary Rajhish Jain on Tuesday sent an official letter to the concerned institutions, stating that suitable activities on the theme of Hyderabad State Liberation may be undertaken during the year between September 17, 2022 and September 17, 2023.

The indicative list of activities comprises talks by eminent people on the liberation of Hyderabad state, street plays, exhibitions, social media awareness campaigns, quiz contests, essay competitions, film screening, painting competitions etc.

The UGC secretary wrote in his letter that the concerned universities and colleges are requested to encourage their faculty members, students and stakeholders to actively participate in these activities and also share the details regarding participation on their website and through emails.

He also informed that the inaugural programme will be organised at Parade Grounds in Hyderabad on September 17.

September 17 is remembered as 'Hyderabad Liberation Day'. On September 17, 1948, the then Hyderabad state was merged with the Indian Union following India's military action 'Operation Polo', also known as 'police action'.

--IANS
gcb/uk

Hyderabad, Sep 13 (IANS) Telangana Finance Minister T. Harish Rao on Tuesday claimed that the Union government owes over Rs 1 lakh crore to the state in the form of pending funds, grants, and compensation.

He told the Assembly that the Centre owes it Rs 1,05,812 and if the pending funds are released, the state can clear one-third of its Rs 3.29 lakh crore debt.

If the Centre releases these funds, the state would not even be required to raise new debt, he said in his reply to the short discussion on "Central government dual policy in implementation of FRBM Act - Impact on state progress"

Harish Rao alleged that the Centre's unilateral decisions and imposition of restrictions against the state to obtain loans under Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) limits was having an adverse impact on the state.

He dismissed the criticism by BJP on the state's debts and claimed that unlike the Union government which obtained loans to repay its loans, the state government spent the borrowings on capital expenditure and created assets. He pointed out that the state took up irrigation projects like the Kaleshwaram project Mission Bhagiratha, Mission Kakatiya and other programmes which created assets for the state.

He said that as per the Reserve Bank of India report, Telangana's debt rank is 23rd in the country.

Harish Rao also rubbished the allegations by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other BJP leaders over the per capita debt on each citizen of the state.

He stated that while the Central debt resulted in the per capita debt of Rs 1,25,679 on every individual, Telangana's debt amounted to Rs 94,272 per capita.

During her recent visit to Telangana, Sitharaman has claimed that every child born in Telangana carries a debt of Rs 1.25 lakh.

Harish Rao stated that Telangana's debt to GSDP ratio at 23.5 per cent is much lower than the country's ratio at 55 per cent.

He claimed that in the last eight years, Telangana assumed top position in terms of increase in state-owned-tax-revenue with 11.5 per cent growth. Odisha came second with 9.7 per cent, followed by Haryana with 9.2 per cent growth.

Telangana's contribution to GDP also increased from 4 per cent to 4.9 per cent in the last eight years, despite having just 2.9 per cent of the nation's population.

"Unlike the BJP government which waived off the corporate loans to benefit its friends, we distributed the State's wealth among the poor," he said.

Harish Rao reminded that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found fault with the Union government for obtaining off-budget loans which amounted to about Rs 6 lakh crore in the last five-six years.

He said if the BJP MLAs and MPs from the state succeed in getting the dues from the Centre, he would felicitate them.

The Finance Minister also slammed the Centre for adopting double standards in implementation of the FRBM Act by imposing restrictions on the states, but not practicing them itself.

He said the Centre took a unilateral decision to impose restrictions on the state's borrowings without constituting the committee as per the recommendation of the 15th Finance Commission. The high-powered inter-governmental committee should comprise the Central and the State governments to review the borrowings.

He claimed that though Telangana was eligible to avail loans up to 4 per cent of its GSDP, it had let go 0.5 per cent of loans for the sake of farmers, after the Centre insisted on fixing smart meters to agricultural pump sets. The Union government also ignored the 15th Finance Commission's recommendations to release Rs 6,268 crore to Telangana under various heads based on its performance.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to increase the tax share of states from 32 per cent to 42 per cent by GST implementation but by imposing more cess, the Centre has reduced the tax component to the state.

While the Central government was mobilising around 22.26 per cent of its revenue through cess and surcharges, the states are losing their revenue and ending up with only 29.6 per cent of total revenue earned by the Centre. Telangana has suffered revenue loss of Rs.33,712 crore, he said.

He remarked that the state would have received more revenues if Value Added Tax (VAT) would have continued.

He alleged that the Centre has also not released Rs 1,350 crore towards development of backward districts, and accused the BJP for destroying the federal spirit to achieve its motto of "weaker states, stronger centre".

--IANS
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